Posted by By PETRUS OBI, Abakaliki on
Jan Peter Baan left the pleasures of his father's large business empire in Holland for missionary work in a local and remote community in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Jan Peter Baan left the pleasures of his father's large business empire in Holland for missionary work in a local and remote community in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Born in Middleburg in Holland, he was the director of his father's company, Oikonomos Foundation, before he was called by God to move down to Third World countries to preach the gospel.
Sudan United Mission employed Jan Peter Baan - Netherlands Reformed Congregation Branch, in September 2001.
As a missionary in Nigeria, he was a member and an Elder of Nigeria Reformed Church, Onuenyim Agbaja, in Ebyia L.G.A of Ebonyi State. He was also a teacher at the Nigeria Reformed Theological College Oswanka, Nnodo L.G.A, Ebonyi State.
Oikonomos Foundation, where Jan Peter Baan was the director, sponsors non-governmental organizations across Nigeria, mostly in the rural areas.
In Ebonyi State, the poor masses in the Izzi Communities have benefited from Oikonomos Foundation support in areas such as medical treatment, rural development and education.
The Foundation has set up a modern secondary school in the area; John Calvin Secondary School, Oswanka, where rural dwellers send their children with little or no school fees.
Many young people from the Izzi Villages and neighbouring villages in Benue State who could not afford to pay university fees benefited from Oikonomos Foundation Scholarship Scheme.
Jan Peter Baan was, however, killed at Oswanka Ezza Inyimegu, Nnodo L.G.A, Ebonyi State, shortly after his father's visit to Nigeria.
As the search for the killers of the missionary continue in Ebonyi State, the Nigeria Reformed Church has vowed to fish out the culprits.
In a recent statement by the General Secretary of the Onuenyim Agbaja branch of the church, Rev. Kenneth Izziogo said, 'the church is thankful to God who has enabled the Nigerian Police to arrest some of the suspects. We also thank Governor Sam Egwu for his stand that justice must be done on this matter. We are equally appreciative of the Nigerian Police Force that has shown determination to see that justice is done".